Fannie Mae - Help the Homeless Program: Homeless Facts

National Facts on Homelessness

Across the United States, 675,000 people are homeless on any given night.

Over the course of a year, 2.5 to 3.5 million people will experience at least one night of
homelessness.

Every year 600,000 families with 1.35 million children experience homelessness in the United States. These families make up about 50 percent of the homeless population over the course of the year.

Reasons that lead to families becoming homeless:

unforeseen economic crisis

job loss

serious medical condition

death in the family

Forty-two percent of children in families experiencing homelessness are age 5 and under.

On any given night 195,827 veterans are without housing in the United States.

It is estimated that between 1 and 1.5 million teenagers experience an episode of homelessness each year.

Washington, DC Region

In Washington, DC 30% of all homeless are people in families.
In Virginia, 43% of homeless persons are in families.
In Maryland, 48% of people who are homeless are in families.
Approximately 8% of all veterans living in DC are homeless 2,500 men and women.
The primary cause of homelessness is lack of affordable housing.
Over 5 million low-income households have serious housing problems due to high housing costs, substandard housing conditions or both.
Over 12,000 people in the D.C metropolitan area are homeless.
In DC, over 6000 people are without homes including 587 homeless families comprised of 687 adults and 1,149 children.
Of the 6000, nearly 20 percent are U.S. military veterans, nearly 20 percent are severely mentally ill, and over 25 percent have a chronic health problem.**

**All of the above information (under both sections) provided by the National Alliance to End Homelessness and the Community Partnership for the Prevention of Homelessness, Washington, D.C.

Copyright, 2009 Fannie Mae.
All rights reserved.

Fannie Mae is working with the Community Foundation for the National Capital Region (CFNCR), who will assist Fannie Mae in the administration of the Help the Homeless Program. CFNCR is a tax exempt 501 (c) (3) organization (Tax ID# 23-7343119). Your donation is tax deductible as a charitable contribution to the fullest extent of the law. Fannie Mae Help the Homeless Program, 3900 Wisconsin Avenue, NW; Washington, DC 20016.